Coupler



June 4,1935. A. H. oELKERs 2,003,582

COUPLER Filed Feb. 19, 1951 2 sheets-sheet 1 June 4, 1935. A. H. oELKERs COUPLER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 19, 1931 Patented `une 4, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ican Steel Foundries, tion of New Jersey Chicago, Ill., a corpora- Application February 19, 1931, Serial No. 516,890

13 Claims.

The invention relates to improvements in railway draft rigging and particularly to the attachment of a car coupler to the draft gear and sills.

An object of the present invention is to provide a simplified practical construction for attaching car couplers to the draft gearing of railway cars involving a cushioned attachment having a high frictional resistance, a sturdy attachment of the cushioning member to the car sills and a simple attachment of the coupler to the cushioning member or draft gear.

A yet further object is to provide a simplified practical construction for attaching car couplers to draft gearing constructed and arranged to allow the coupler to pivot laterally-when the car rounds a curve.

A yet further object is to provide a coupler having a yoke integral therewith, the yoke embracing the draft gear members and being secured to the sills by means of the members.

A still further object is to provide a pivotal connection between the yoke and draft gear to allow the coupler to pivot in relation to the draft gear when the car is being pulled. To this end a further object is to provide cylindrical surfaces on both yoke and draft gear members for engagement in buff, the surfaces having the same center as the pivot on which the coupler pulls.

A still further object is to provide a connection between coupler and draft gear which will result in maximum bearing area in both draft and buff.

A yet further object is to provide a draft gear wherein the friction blocks or wedge elements are assembled through slots in the car sills.

A yet further object is to provide a combined striking casting and draft gear carrier formed to reinforce slots in the car sills and by means of which the car coupler and draft gear will be secured to the sills.

With these and various other objects in view, the invention may consist of certain novel features of construction and operation, as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the specification, drawings and claims appended hereto.

In the drawings, which illustrate an embodiment of the device and wherein like reference characters are used to designate like parts- Figure 1 is a plan View, parts being shown in section of the draft gear and associated coupler constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially A(Cl. 213-38) through the center of the device shown in Figure 1;

Figure' 3 is a plan view showing a modied arrangement of draft gear and associated coupler; and

Figure 4 is a sectional. view taken substantially through the center of the device shown in Figure 3.

The embodiment of the device selected for illustration is shown as associated with channel shaped 10 center or draft sills IU, l0 of `a railway car underframe, the sills havingv secured to their inner surfaces a back stop oricenter casting designated in its entirety by Il and a unitary draft sill attachment providing the usual front or draft lugs 15 I2, I2 and back or bufng lugs I3, I3. Integrally formed and comprising a portion of rthe attachment is a striking casting I4 and carrier iron I5, the latter providing a support for the wear plate I6. Also integrally formed with the lugs are hori- 20 zontal flanges Il which form supporting means for supporting the operating members of the draft gear and which thus also support the coupler from the center sills, as will be described.

The draft gear is composed of a plurality of fric- 25 tion blocks or wedging elements, including a front wedging element I8 provided with diagonal friction faces 20 and a front arcuate bearing surface 2| and a rear wedging element 22 .provi-ded with friction faces 23 and a centrally disposed cylindri- 3o cal notch 24 located vertically on its rear surface. Laterally movable wedging elements 25 and 26 are provided having diagonal friction faces 21 and 28 respectively for cooperating with friction faces on the front and rear wedging elements. The mov- 35 able wedging elements are provided with a horizontal slot for accommodating a tension or spring rod 33, on which are located coil spring 3l suitably held on the Vrod by means of washer 32 and securing nut 33 and adapted to be seated in spring 40 seats 34 and 35 provided in the wedging elements 25 and 2S respectively.

The wedging members are assembled by inserting the same through longitudinal slots 36 formed in the sills I0 and in assembled position it is seen 45 that the wedging members project through the openings, the front and rear element extending from sill to sill, and in this manner haveV attachment to the car sills.

A car coupler 38 is shown as associated withv50 the draft gear, the coupler having formed integrally therewith a shank or yoke 40 provided with a horizontal slot 4I and by means of the same embracing the draft gear. The rear wall of the yoke 40 is formed to provide a cylindrical bearing 42 adapted to be located in the notch 24, thus permitting the coupler 38 to pivot laterally as the car is being pulled and to also provide a maximum bearing area between the yoke and the wedging member in draft irrespective of the position of the yoke in relation thereto. The opposite end of the horizontal slot 4| provided in the yoke forms an arcuate bearing surface 43 adapted to engage the surface 2|` on the forward wedging member I8 during buff` movement of the coupler 38 and to thus provide a maximum bearing area between the parts during this movement. arcuate surfaces further permit a lateral movement of the coupler during bufng engagement with the draft gear since the arcuate surfaces are formed on the same center as the cylindrical notch 24. It is to be noted that the horizontal slot in the yoke 4|! is made deeper at the outerend than at the inner end so that the weight of the combined coupler and yoke is carried. on the friction block 2'. engaged during pulling of the car, while the coupler head is free to move upward and downwardwithin theclearance of the striking casting |4 without binding on the forward Wedging element I8, which is in engagement with the yoke onlyduringbui movement of the coupler. .Also the present constructionpermits a unit coupler and yoke wherein the yoke portion engaging the draft gear is ofsuch dimensions that the coupler shank can be inserted into the end of the striking casting from thelend of the car.` It will also be seen that the structure secures the car coupler to the center sills lby means of the wedging members forming thedraft gear, which are inserted transversely through the slots 56 in the sills. i

The combined draft sill attachment providing the buingand draft lugs and having integral therewith the striking casting |4 and the supporting flanges. il functions to reinforce the slots 36 inthecarsills. through which the draft elements are inserted. The combined casting therefore functions as a striking casting for the coupler, a carrierforthe coupler shank and guiding means for the draftgear wedging elements,y in .addition to. forming .the complete means for attaching the couplerto theA car sills.

In operation Vof the. mechanism upon draft movementbeing imparted to thecoupler 38 the rear wedgingelement 22 will be engaged .causing movement of the sameto the left whereupon the friction faces will engage. the faces on the movable wedging. elements 25 and 2G. As the front wedge. |8 goes solid against vthe lugs l2 the members 25 and 2S will be forced outwardly against the springs 3| to thusyieldingly resist the pull of the coupler. pler the arcuate surfaces 2| and 43, on wedge I8 and yoke respectively, will engage, forcing the rear wedge 22 against the rear stops to result in outward movement of the. wedging elements against the springs as described.

Referring to Figures 3 and :4 center sills IIS are disclosed, to the inner surfaces of whichis suitably secured the combined casting described which. forms the draft and buing lugs ||2 and ||3 respectively-and the supporting flanges ||1 for supporting the wedging .elements of the draft gear. The center sills are slotted. as-at |36 vfor receiving the wedging elements of` thedraft'gear inthe vmanner as described-in ,thepreferredgembodiment. VWith the .coupler v|38 being provided with an integral yoke portion, the, same has an arcuate surface .|43 for engaging the arcuate surface I 2| on the front wedging element, andaI Thev On buff movement ofthe coupivot portion |42 for engaging the cylindrical surface |24 on the rear wedging element.

In this modification, however, the striking casting is cut out at |45 adjacent the coupler shank to permit insertion of the unit coupler and yoke from beneath the car sills. Also the yoke in this modification is provided with a projecting lug |46 located intermediate the coupler proper and the yoke for engagement with lug |41 provided inwardly of the striking casting H4. In c ase of failure or collapse of the draft gear or that portion of the yoke engaging the same, the lugr |46 will engage lug |41 thus preventing the coupler from being pulled out completely and maintaining engagement of the coupler with the car sills indirectly through the striking casting.

It is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited. by the exact embodiment of the device shown, whichis merely by way of illustration and not limitation, as various and other forms of thedevice-will of course be apparent to those skilled inthe art without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

l. Ina draft gear, the combination with center sills provided with horizontal slots, of wedge members projecting through said slots, resilient:

means maintaining said wedge members inY engagement, a striking casting secured to said sills and providing front and rear stops for limiting movement of said wedge members, a coupler member formed with an integral yoke embracing said wedge members, the yoke portion of said coupler embracing said members being of a size to permit insertion thereof through the end of said striking casting.

2. In a draft rigging, the combination of slotteddraft sills, a striking casting secured to the forward ends of said sills and having an opening defined at the bottom by an integral coupler carrying member, a coupler member having a shank yportion and an integral yoke portion insertable through the opening in said striking casting, and a draft gear extending through said slots and yoke portion and serving to attach said coupler member tosaid sills.

3. In a draft appliance, the combination of a yoke, a draft gear associated therewith and having front and rear friction members embraced by said yoke, said members being formed with spaced central portions engageable for limiting e, movement thereof upon operation of said draft gear and forming a transversely disposed groove therebetween, friction blocksbetween said members, a spring supporting member extending between said blocks and having a flattened portion enterable in said grooves and embraced by said central portions to prevent turning of said spring supporting r'member when assembling said draft gear.

A4. In a draft rigging, the combination of slotted draft sills, `a striking casting of integrall constructionsecured to the forward ends of said sills, a coupler member having an integral yoke portion insertable through the opening of said striking castingand being disposed between said sills, and a draft gear, said draft gear including cooperating friction-.elements insertable into .position-,within saidslotsfrom/the side of said sills,

and .means for yieldably maintaining Vsaid elements ,in operative engagement, certain of said elements -being embraced by said yoke portion,

said elements serving as a key for attaching saidcoupler member to said sills and supprtingsaid yoke portion..

5. In a draft rigging, the combination of slotted draft sills, a striking casting of integral construction secured to the forward ends of said sills, said striking casting including a carry iron and rearwardly disposed cheek plates formed with slots substantially coinciding with the slots` of said sills, a coupler member having a shank portion and an integral yoke portion disposed between said cheek plates, and a draft gear within said slots and extending between said sills, said draft gear comprising a plurality of cooperating friction elements including a front and a rear friction member embraced by said yoke portion, said coupler member having the shank portion thereof supported on said carry iron, said yoke and rear friction member having a close fit and said yoke and front friction member being formed to provide clearance therebetween to allow Vertical angling of said coupler without displacement of said friction members, said friction elements being supported by said cheek plates and serving as a key to attach said coupler member to said sills.

6. In a draft rigging, the combination of slotted draft sills, a striking casting secured to the forward ends of said sills and having an opening defined at the bottom by an integral coupler carrying member, a one-piece coupler member having a yoke portion insertable through the opening of said striking casting and being disposed between said sills, and a draft gear embraced by said yoke and disposed within said slots, said draft gear serving as a key for attaching said coupler member to said sills and supporting said yoke portion.

7. In a draft rigging, the combination of slotted draft sills, a striking casting comprising a striking plate and coupler carrier spaced below said plate, a one-piece coupler member comprising a yoke portion of less height than the distance between said plate and carrier whereby said member is insertable through the space between said plate and carrier, and a draft gear including elements insertable into position through said slots from the side of said sills, certain of said elements being embraced by said yoke portion, said elements serving as a key yfor attaching said coupler member to said sills and supporting said yoke portion.

8. In a draft rigging, the combination of slotted draft sills, a striking plate and coupler carrier disposed in spaced relation and connected to said draft sills, a coupler member, a yoke associated with said member and being of less height than the distance between said plate and carrier whereby said yoke is insertable through the space between said plate and carrier, and a draft gear insertable into position through said slots from the side of said sills, said draft gear being embraced by said yoke and serving as a key for attaching said coupler and yoke to said sills.

9. In a draft rigging, the combination of slotted draft sills, a striking casting comprising a striking plate and coupler carrier spaced below said plate, a one-piece coupler member comprising a yoke portion of less height than the distance between said plate and carrier whereby said member is insertable through the space between said plate and carrier, and a draft gear insertable into position through said slots from the side of said sills, said draft gear being embraced by said yoke portion and serving as a key for attaching said coupler member to said sills and supporting said yoke portion.

10. In a draft rigging, the combination of slotted draft sills, a striking casting comprising a striking plate and coupler carrier spaced below said plate, said striking casting having rearwardly disposed cheek plates secured to said sills and having slots substantially coextensive with the slots of said sills, a one-piece coupler member comprising a yoke portion of less height than the distance between said plate and carrier whereby said member is insertable through the space between said plate and carrier, and a draft gear insertable into position through said slots from the side of said sills, said draft gear being embraced by said yoke and serving as a key for attaching said coupler member to said sills and for supporting said yoke portion.v

1l. In draft rigging, the combination withcenter sills having slots therein, of a striking casting secured to said sills and reenforcing said sills adjacent the slots, said striking casting having top and bottom portions and side walls in spaced relation forming a coupler receiving opening, a draft gear extending through said slots and supported by said casting, a coupler member formed with an integral yoke embracing said gear, said yoke portion being supported by said striking casting through said gear, said member being insertable through the opening in said striking casting, and means on said coupler member for engaging a portion of said casting in case of collapse of said gear.

l2. In a draft rigging, the combination of slotted draft sills, a striking plate and coupler carrier disposed in spaced relation, a coupler member, a yoke associated with said member and insertable through the space between said plate and carrier, a draft gear insertable into position through said slots from the side of said sills, said draft gear being embraced by said yoke and serving as a key for attaching said coupler and yoke to said sills, and means carrie-d by said yoke adapted to engage said plate in case of collapse of said gear.

13. In a draft rigging, the combination with a car underframe comprising slotted draft sills, a striking plate and coupler carrier disposed in spaced relationlsecured to the underframe, a coupler member, a yoke associated with said member and being of less height than the distance between said plate and carrier whereby said yoke is insertable through the space between said plate and carrier, and a draft gear insertable into position through said slots from the side of said sills, said draft gear being embraced by said yoke and serving as a key for attaching said coupler and yoke to said sills.

ALFRED H. OELKERS. 

